News and events in Lower Manhattan
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Volume 6, No. 59, July 3, 2022
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CONTENTS:
Letter from the Editor: Who Won
Tribeca Film Festival documentaries add perspective to today's headlines
Bits & Bytes: St. Nicholas Orthodox Church construction update
Bulletin Board: Prehistoric dinosaurs in the Seaport
Calendar: July 4 Fireworks
COVID-19 CASES IN NEW YORK CITY: As of July 3, 2022 at 1:16 p.m.
2,573,654 confirmed cases * 40,764 deaths * 7,319,358 vaccinated in NYC
Go to www.DowntownPostNYC.com for breaking news and for updated information on facility closures related to COVID-19
MASTHEAD PHOTO: A statue of George Washington stands on the steps of Federal Hall at Broad and Wall Streets in the Financial District. At this site, Washington was sworn in on April 30, 1789 as the first U.S. president. The banners also reference the fact that this where the first Congress of the United States met and where its members wrote and affirmed the Bill of Rights. To read the text of the Bill of Rights, click here. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer 2018)
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: WHO WON
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By now, if you have any interest in local politics, you probably know who won the primary election slots that affect New York State as a whole and Lower Manhattan in particular. But just in case this information eluded you, here's a recap.
In the Democratic primary for Governor, Kathy Hochul bested Jumaane Williams and Thomas Suozzi. Hochul got 585,601 votes to 165,709 for Williams and 112,393 for Suozzi.
In the Democratic race for Lieutenant Governor, Antonio Delgado won with 502,690 votes beating out Ana Maria Archilla and Diana Reyna.
The Republican slate of gubernatorial candidates was led by Lee Zeldin, who got 195,297 votes.
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If I've bored you already with this information, which I suspect I have, I will add that there are roughly 6.5 million registered Democrats in New York State. There are approximately 2.7 million registered Republicans. In addition there are millions of "independent" voters who aren't affiliated with any political party and who therefore can't vote in a primary election. So, as you can see, relatively few people showed up to vote, which is actually just what was expected.
On the local level, this sparse turnout made a big difference. The newly created District 61 for the New York State Assembly combined part of Staten Island with the southern part of Battery Park City in Manhattan. This marriage was dreamed up by Jonathan Cervas, a Special Master appointed by New York State Supreme Court Justice Patrick McCallister. Cervas's credentials for the redistricting job were primarily that he was a post-doctoral fellow at the Institute for Politics and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa. and had worked on some local redistricting issues for Utah, Virginia and Georgia and on a broader scale for the State of Pennsylvania.
Cervas's redistricting plan drew howls of protest but at that point, there wasn't much that anyone could do about it. Charles Fall, the incumbent in Staten Island for the prior Assembly District 61 garnered 4,091 votes, defeating Battery Park City resident Justine Cuccia who received 1,784 votes. With so few people voting, it's clear that a more substantial turnout might have shifted the results.
In other State Assembly contests, Grace Lee got the nod for Assembly District 65, with 4,381 votes and Deborah Glick, the long-serving incumbent in District 66, won her primary race with 8,497 votes.
If those results aren't exactly what you would have wanted, be sure to show up for the next election. There will be another primary on Aug. 23 during which the candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and the New York State Senate will be nominated. Every vote counts.
Terese Loeb Kreuzer
Editor, Downtown Post NYC
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Downtown Post NYC's website (www.DowntownPostNYC.com) is updated daily. That's the place to check for urgent messages, breaking news and reminders of interesting events in and around Lower Manhattan. So be sure to look at the website every day, especially if you want to know about breaking news.
HOW TO SUPPORT DOWNTOWN POST NYC: I made Downtown Post NYC free to subscribers so that no one who was interested in reading it would be excluded because of cost. Downtown Post NYC is largely supported by advertising revenue. In addition, some people have made contributions, which are much appreciated. For more information about how to contribute or advertise, email editor@downtownpostnyc.com.
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TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL DOCUMENTARIES ADD PERSPECTIVE TO TODAY'S NEWS AND HEADLINES
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The 2022 edition of the Tribeca Film Festival has ended but some of the films that debuted at the festival will undoubtedly resurface in coming months because they were so compelling and so timely. Among them were films that dealt with homelessness in New York City, the war in Ukraine and women's rights. Some of these films will be reviewed in this and in upcoming issues of Downtown Post NYC. (Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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As usual, there were hundreds of films in the Tribeca Film Festival. Here's a sample:
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Kārlis Arnolds Avots as Jazis during a harsh, cold Latvian winter, permeated with tension, despair and defiance. (Photo: Andrejs Strokin)
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January: Decades before Russia embarked on a war with Ukraine, Russia had attacked and conquered the Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Communist rule was oppressive and often cruel.
The writer/director of "January," Viesturs Kairiss, was 19 years old in 1991 like Jazis, the protagonist of this film, and like Jazis, Viesturs Kairiss was living in Riga, Latvia.
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"I was fighting for my personal freedom while the Latvian nation was fighting for freedom from the crushing totalitarian regime of the USSR," he recalled. "The war in Ukraine demonstrates that this fight is not over."
Drinking, whoring, struggling with a love affair gone wrong, Jazis becomes depressed and suicidal until he finds his path, not as a pretentious filmmaker as he had imagined, but as a documentarian of the Latvian struggle. One of the last frames of the film bears this message: "For all the filmmakers who have died documenting our history."
"January" won the Tribeca Film Festival's top prize for an international narrative feature. — Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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LIFT: This beautiful, heart-tugging documentary is about a man named Steven Melendez who was living with his mother in a Bronx shelter for the homeless when, at the age of 7, he was introduced to ballet through the LIFT program at Ballet School New York. Ballet changed his life, enabling him eventually to become a soloist with leading ballet companies, a guest artist and a teacher.
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Victor Abreu, formerly of New York Theatre Ballet’s LIFT program, leaps in the air, as seen in LIFT, directed by David Petersen. (Photo credit: Fyodor Shiryaev. Courtesy of Beaufort 9 Films)
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But what makes this film especially poignant is that Melendez returns to the neighborhood where he grew up, introducing kids there to ballet and becoming their mentor. The film was shot over a 10-year period, following three youngsters, one of whom, Victor Abreu, eventually became a member of New York City Ballet's corps de ballet. His professional success was remarkable but equally compelling is the story of Yolanssie Cardona, who Melendez gently but bluntly counsels as he sees her rebelliousness and risk-taking leading to a catastrophic conclusion. The third and youngest child followed in this film, Sharia Blockwood, loves dance so much that she says that she hopes to join a summer dance program and gain admission to a performing arts high school.
Melendez is very aware that ballet, with its fairy tale beauty and aristocratic accoutrements, is culturally foreign to young people in the homeless shelters. He recalls that when his accomplishments placed him in classes with financially stable children from intact families, he kept his background to himself. "Maybe I was embarrassed or ashamed," he says. "I don't know." But he is also aware that being in a real theater can and does dazzle the children. He knows that the opportunity to perform for an audience that includes family members who may never have dreamed that such a thing would be possible for their children, instills pride and hope.
The demands of ballet study are in themselves great teachers. Ballet requires practice, discipline and perseverance. It requires passion and musicality. It requires flexibility and strength. Melendez knows that whether or not his students from the homeless shelters become dancers, they will have acquired habits and skills that will serve them well.
This documentary provides a powerful insight into what is possible if young people are only given a chance. — Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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Gifts from Té Company
include
Té Company's snacks, oolong tea and teaware.
The tea room is open Wednesdays to Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.
163 West 10th St.
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Bits & Bytes
ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH CONSTRUCTION UPDATE; SOME LOWER MANHATTAN RESTAURANT OPENINGS
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"The MTA’s congestion pricing plan is moving forward, once again, after the agency was unexpectedly saddled with more than 400 follow-up questions from federal officials back in March," Gothamist.com reports. For more about this, click here.
(Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church’s Exterior Nears Completion In Financial District, Manhattan, New York YIMBY, 6/28/22. "Work on the white marble and glass façade of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is bringing the long-awaited project closer to completion in the Financial District," says New York YIMBY. "Designed by Santiago Calatrava and developed by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the reinforced concrete structure sits atop the eastern end of Liberty Park by the intersection of Greenwich and Liberty Streets. The ground floor rests on the elevated park space, which itself serves as the roof for the southern entrance and exit of the vehicle security center for the World Trade Center complex." For the complete article with photos, click here.
NYC Financial District Office Tower Will Convert to Apartments, globest.com, 6/27/22."Two New York developers who have acquired an aging office tower in NYC’s financial district have revealed their plans to convert the 30-story building into 571 market-rate apartment units," says Globe Street. "A joint venture of Silverstein Properties and Metro Loft agreed in May to purchase 55 Broad Street, which opened in 1967, for $180M from Rudin Management. Recently, the partnership said the building will be converted to apartments during the next three years, making it the largest office-to-apartment adaptive reuse project in NYC thus far this year. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, a third of the office space at 55 Broad currently is empty." For the complete article, click here.
Tribeca triplex for sale after fetching $85,000 a month as a rental, therealdeal.com, 6/26/22. "A Tribeca triplex that rented for $85,000 a month has hit the market for $30 million," says The Real Deal. "The penthouse at 1 North Moore Street comes with an outdoor pool, two outdoor grills and views of One World Trade Center, according to The Wall Street Journal. The 5,500-square-foot home has three bedrooms and three full bathrooms and a media room that can be converted into a fourth bedroom. It also has 2,200 square feet of outdoor space over two levels, including a landscaped rooftop deck with a 21-foot infinity pool and Jacuzzi, an outdoor shower and a kitchen. The primary suite has a wet bar and a suede ceiling." For the complete article, click here.
Some restaurant openings in Lower Manhattan: A Mediterranean Restaurant With a Sprawling Terrace and Riverfront Views Debuts in Battery Park City, eater.com, 6/23/22. "It’s located on the Hudson and faces New Jersey, but Mezze on the River, the latest downtown waterfront dining spot from the Merchants Hospitality group, draws on a Mediterranean theme," says eater.com. "On two outdoor terraces, customers will find a seafood-leaning menu with raw bar options, grilled octopus, and of course, platters of mezze ideal for sharing. It opened on June 21, a restaurant representative confirmed at 375 South End Avenue, between Albany and Liberty streets."
And in Tribeca: "Despite changes in chefs and front-of-house staffers through the years, wine always remained the focus of Racines NY before it shut down last year. Now, some of the partners — including the star sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier and general manager Jared David — have taken over the space and brought on chef Jonathan Karis to open Chambers at 94 Chambers Street, between Broadway and Church Street."
In the Financial District: "Are hotel restaurants having a moment? It’s sure starting to look like it. The latest comes from restaurateur John Fraser, who’s opened a white tablecloth restaurant called La Marchande in the Wall Street Hotel at 88 Wall Street."
MTA’s congestion pricing program back on track, again, Gothamist.com, 6/29/22. "The MTA’s congestion pricing plan is moving forward, once again, after the agency was unexpectedly saddled with more than 400 follow-up questions from federal officials back in March," says Gothamist.com. "At the agency’s monthly board meeting on Wednesday, Chairman Janno Lieber confirmed that after more than three months of work, the MTA had answered all of the questions about how the environment might be impacted if it charges drivers a fee to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. The environmental assessment is a key bureaucratic hurdle the MTA must complete before implementing the nation’s first congestion pricing program....Once the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approves the MTA’s environmental assessment the MTA still has a long way to go. It must conduct more public outreach, install devices to collect the tolls, and set a price that will ultimately raise $1 billion a year in revenue....The law already exempts Manhattan residents that live in the congestion zone and earn less than $60,000 a year from the charges, as well as emergency vehicles and vehicles that transport paratransit riders." For the complete article, click here.
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Bulletin Board
PREHISTORIC DINOSAURS IN THE SEAPORT; BPC WALKING TOUR
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So far the Loch Ness Monster hasn't shown up in the South Street Seaport, but it has had its share of prehistoric creatures — real ones! Under the auspices of the South Street Seaport Museum, dinosaur expert and author Dustin Growick will lead a Seaport walk on Saturday, July 9 at 2 p.m. that will focus on prehistoric creatures that once lived in New York Harbor and the surrounding waterways. The family-friendly event is recommended for ages 6+. It will begin at Cannon’s Walk, 206 Front St., and continue on to Pier 16. Cost: $5 per participant. To learn more and buy tickets, click here.
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Battery Park City Authority launches 'virtual' open house: The Battery Park City Authority welcomed the feedback that it received on June 29 at the North/West Battery Park City Resiliency Project Open House. As a follow-up, the BPCA has launched a virtual version of this Open House. It will be available through July 31, 2022. This virtual activity includes a video, meeting materials and a chance to add comments to the materials. To access the virtual open house, click here.
Walking tour of Battery Park City: Many of us know that Battery Park City with its apartment buildings, offices and commercial spaces set amidst beautifully landscaped parks and gardens is a very special place. BPC opened on 92 acres of landfill in the 1980s and was cheered by urbanists for emphasizing community and walkability over single-building construction. On July 10, the Congress for New Urbanism will be holding a one-hour tour of Battery Park City. Read more about the history of Battery Park City here. Register for the walking tour by emailing bpctour7@gmail.com.
South St. Seaport Museum seeks volunteers: Volunteers work to support every aspect of the South St. Seaport Museum, but are most often involved in working on the waterfront at Pier 16 where crews restore and maintain the Museum’s fleet of historic vessels using traditional maritime skills. Volunteers and interns help the museum staff maintain and interpret the stationary vessels and operate, maintain and interpret the operational vessels. Entry level work includes cleaning and organizing, repairs, painting, polishing, varnishing, and general maintenance. In the spring, the operational vessels are fitted out and re-rigged for the coming season, and in the late fall they’re down-rigged for winter. Most labor can be unskilled. Training is provided. In addition, all ships need carpenters, electricians, ship engineers, riggers, metalworkers and divers from time to time. Requirements: Physical stamina, skills as described above and an ability to work in a team. Volunteers must be 18 or older and have a parent’s or guardian’s permission to sail. In addition, they must go on two training sails which are held most Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon during the sailing season. Between the first and second training sail, volunteers must take a U.S. Coast Guard mandated drug test. To maintain their active status, they must work as crew on at least four sails a month (during the season). Click here for more information.
Governors Island ferry access: Access to Governors Island is by ferry, with timed ticket reservations required. Ferries run daily from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South St. in Lower Manhattan. The ferries are always free for kids 12 and under, for seniors 65 and up, for residents of NYCHA housing, for military servicemembers, Governors Island members, and for everyone on weekends before noon. Starting later this year, NYC Ferry will serve Governors Island daily via the South Brooklyn route. A launch date for this expanded service will be announced soon. NYC Ferry's shuttle from Wall Street/Pier 11 to Yankee Pier on Governors Island will continue on weekends until the launch of 7-day/week service along the South Brooklyn route. NYC Ferry riders on any line that makes stops at Wall Street/Pier 11 may transfer to a shuttle service to Governors Island on Saturdays and Sundays. Governors Island weekend ferry service from Brooklyn (Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Atlantic Basin in Red Hook) is currently not in service and will return in Spring, 2022. The first ferry to Governors Island from 10 South St. leaves at 7 a.m. The last ferry from Governors Island leaves at 6 p.m. Learn more about Governors Island ferries and book tickets by clicking here.
Lower Manhattan Greenmarkets: There are Lower Manhattan Greenmarkets in Tribeca (at Chambers and Greenwich Streets) and at Bowling Green, City Hall, the Oculus and the Staten Island ferry. GrowNYC asks that shoppers wear a face covering inside the market space and maintain a six-foot distance between themselves, Greenmarket staff, farm stand employees and other customers. Dogs and bicycles should be left at home.
Click here for a list of the fruits and vegetables now in season.
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Many of the Downtown Post NYC bulletin board listings are now on the Downtown Post NYC website. To see the bulletin board listings, click here.
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To see the events and activities on the Battery Park City Authority's summer calendar, click here. Most events are free. For some, reservations are required.
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CALENDAR
Spotlight: July 4 fireworks
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Fireworks on the East River, with the Brooklyn Bridge in the foreground.
(Photos: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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The Macy's fireworks show is the largest Independence Day celebration in the nation. It will be launched on July 4 from five barges in the East River, positioned between East 23rd Street and East 42nd Street. The show will begin at 9:25 p.m. and will be visible from locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
The show, which will feature more than 48,000 shells synchronized to a musical score, will last 25 minutes. The music will be carried by 1010 WINS and will also be available on the Audacy app.
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See the July 4 fireworks from the deck of Clipper City, the largest tall ship in New York City. Tom Berton, owner of Clipper City, promises "a great crew, terrific energy and an unforgettable experience!" In addition to the fireworks, there will be a live band, a gourmet barbecue dinner with special treats and a premium bar. Board at 5 p.m. from Pier 35 (on the East Side, just north of Manhattan Bridge.) Depart at 5:30 p.m. The 158-foot-long ship will carry no more than 100 passengers. Tickets: $750. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.
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Classic Harbor Line, which operates primarily out of Chelsea Piers, is fielding five yachts and two sailboats for the July 4th celebration. Three of the yachts are sold out. There are a few seats left on the yacht Mariner III at $500 a person and also on the yacht Kingston, which costs $492 for two or three guests. The Schooner America 2.0 and the Schooner Adirondack also have a few tickets left. Both are serving beer, wine and soft drinks and "light hors d'oeuvres." For more information on costs and availability, click here.
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Classic Harbor Line's schooner America 2.0.
(Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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Waiting for the fireworks to begin on July 4, 2015.
(Photo: © Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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Downtown Post NYC is emailed to subscribers once a week.
Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer
All articles and photographs in Downtown Post NYC are copyrighted and
may not be reprinted or republished without written permission.
© 2022
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